The Faculty of Islamic Studies at Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII) hosted a faculty research colloquium under a program called PROMISE (Progress on Research on Muslim and Islamic Studies), featuring Dr. A. Mughzi Abdillah, a lecturer at UIII. This program aims to assist faculty members in transforming their draft papers into publishable articles suitable for reputable journals. Held on Tuesday, March 11th, 2025, at the Teleconference Room, Level 2, Faculty A Building, the event gathered faculty members and PhD students for an in-depth academic discussion.
Dr. Mughzi presented his latest research, “The Illusion of Neutrality: Ebussuud’s Tafsir Under Ottoman Power in the Post-Classical Age,” which examined how Ebussuud Efendi, a leading Ottoman scholar, influenced both Quranic interpretation (tafsir) and legal rulings (fatwas) under state authority. The study challenged the traditional view that post-classical Islamic scholarship marked a period of decline, highlighting instead the continued dynamism of tafsir. By analyzing Ebussuud’s interpretations, the research shed light on how religious texts were shaped within the framework of political and legal structures in the Ottoman era.

With a strong academic background in Islamic legal thought and tafsir, Dr. Mughzi earned his Ph.D. in Islamic Studies from Ankara University, a distinguished institution in Turkey. His expertise spans Islamic jurisprudence and its historical development, making his analysis of Ebussuud’s tafsir particularly relevant. His study utilized historical sources, incorporating perspectives from Ottoman legal traditions, to explore the deep connection between tafsir and fatwas.

The discussion provided new perspectives on the evolving nature of Quranic interpretation under political influence. Participants examined how religious scholars balanced their roles as interpreters of sacred texts while engaging with state structures. By critically assessing Ebussuud’s tafsir, the session contributed to a broader understanding of the intersection between religious authority and legal traditions in Islamic history.

The Promise program was part of the Faculty of Islamic Studies’ ongoing commitment to advancing research on Muslim and Islamic studies while fostering critical engagement with both historical and contemporary issues in Islamic thought.